Packers start demolishing homes for parking

ASHWAUBENON - As the Packers continue to build on to their stadium, the team is doing the opposite with some area houses.

A block of houses, south of the stadium, started coming down Thursday.

“Well my first thought was well there goes the neighborhood,” said Stephen Hermann of Ashwaubenon.

Neighbors near Lambeau Field watched the demolitions and wonder if their home could someday meet the same fate as the ones on Barberry Lane.

“It worries us a little bit, but it is what it is,” said Hermann.

Hermann rents a home on Ridge Road, just around the corner from the homes being demolished.

“We're surrounded by houses and when it's all said and done, it's going to be pretty much fields,” said Hermann.

Fields for parking. In all, twelve houses will be demolished during the next few weeks. Grass and gravel parking lots will replace them.

“When everybody sold out to them and there's nobody left in the neighborhood, then we decided well this is a time where we should probably tear them down if that's their wish,” said Mike Aubinger, Ashwaubenon Village President.

The Packers are still working out the details with the Village of Ashwaubenon, but a team spokesperson tells FOX 11 the space will likely hold about 400 vehicles. It's unclear whether the lots will be for game day customers or staff.

“I think this is exciting,” said Jerry Menne, a neighbor of Lambeau Field. “There are improvements being made to the Packer overall campus.”

The home demolitions come just days after Kmart announced it's closing its doors on the west side of the stadium. The Packers own the property along with pretty much everything else between the stadium and Highway 41.

“The only demolition permit we have in our office right now are for those houses,” said Aubinger. “Will they demo Kmart and the rest of it there? I have no idea.”

Neighbors say they don't know either, but are anxious to hear about any other plans the Packers might have.

“It's a dynamic movement of the community and the Packer structure itself,” said Menne.